Improvement in corsets



STRAUSS. Corset.

No 206,906. Patented Aug. 13,1878.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY S. STRAUSS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORSETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 206,906, dated August 13, 1978; application filed June 1, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY S. STRAUSS, of the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Corsets for Nursing; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, and of the mode or manner of operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, and making a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object the construction of a corset adapted to be used by the wearer when nursing, so constructed that it shall not be necessary to remove the corset when engaged in nursing, and when not so engaged that the corset will retain the shape and appearance of the bust and cover the breasts, and arranged without bones on the parts covering the breasts, by which arrangement a corset is produced that supports the breasts and gives good shape to the corset and the dress over it, and, while supporting and protecting the breasts, does away with the stifiening parts which rub and chafe the breasts in nursing-corsets as heretofore constructed.

In the drawing is shown the upper part of a corset, giving a view of my invention. The side A shows the corset closed, as it is ordinarily when worn, and the side B shows the corset open, as it is when the wearer is engaged in nursing.

The front of the corset, constituting that portion of it which covers the breasts, is made of two gore-shaped pieces, 0 and 0', having at their sides parallel ribs d (1, extending from the top to the bottom of the corset, and arranged, as shown in the drawing, so that these bones do not project upon that part of the corset which covers the breasts, leaving that part of the corset pliable, smooth, and soft. Although this arrangement of the gores brings a scam over the breasts, I believe it is superior to inserting one broad gore for the breast part, because the breast part can be more perfectly shaped, and the seam can be made so as not to ehafe the breasts. On the breast part, over the nipple on each side, I cut out, or strike out with a die, a round hole large enough to permit the nipple to protrude freely through it so as to be easily taken by the child. This opening must be made round, in

order to avoid the pinching of the breasts which is incident to nursing-corsets made with a slit, V-shaped, or square opening, and which cannot be avoided by any opening having corners or angles. The upper edge of this opening should be a little below the upper edge of the corset, directly over it, as shown in the drawing. This arrangement preserves the shape of the bust. The opening should also be edged with a suitable material that will not chafe the breast of the wearer.

To cover up this opening when the wearer is not engaged in nursing, I attach a flap or cover, a, which may be made of any shape desired, but should be sufficiently large to project well over the opening on all sides. This flap may be made of any material desired; but the inner surface, lying against the breast, is covered with oiled silk or other suitable smooth water-proof material, so that it may be kept clean and dry, thus protecting the breasts from colds, frequently caused by the dampness of that part of the corset, and also giving a surface that does not chafe when damp. I attach this flap or covering a by buttons on each side, as shown in the drawing, so that it may be detached at either or both sides, enablin g the wearer to detach it at either side or take it off altogether when nursing, as may be most convenient, and also enabling the wearer to take it off altogether for drying or cleaning, when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A flap for covering the opening of a nursing-corset, having its inner surface covered with oiled silkor other smooth waterproof material, attached to and detachable from the corset, substantially as described and shown, and for the purposes set forth.

2. A nursing-corset having the parts covcring the breasts made without bones or stiffening-ribs, as shown, provided with a round opening in that part of the corset, in combination with the flap for covering the opening, having its inner surface covered with oiled silk or other smooth water-proof material, attached to and detachable from the corset, substantially as described and shown, and for the purposes set forth.

HENRY S. STRAUSS.

Witnesses A. T. GURLITZ, JOHN H. STEENWERTH. 

